Australian on US Health Care

[liberalpragmatist]

An Aussie emailed this to Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo.

I'm a long time reader of your blog and a big fan. But i'm turning off all access to US media, it simply depresses me. I cannot understand why a bunch of people feel so outraged about having universal health care policy. How is that socialism? My country along with a bunch of Europeans have had similar systems for years and although they're not perfect, they allow for the poor, middle and upper classes to seek treatment at no cost.

On a holiday to new york several years ago my grandmother had a heart attack, fell into a coma and passed away nine days later. We were told at the time that she was officially brain dead and that she had no chance of waking up. Thankfully we had travel insurance as there would have been no way we could of afforded treatment. Regardless it put into spotlight the difference between our two countries. If the heart attack occured in australia the treatment would have been no different and it would have been free. I can't understand how the richest country in the world can't have a similar system.

...

What disturbs me is that you have a black president who seems to be the most intelligent, politically savvy and morally guided president that you've had in years. And with the history of assassinations in your country, people are allowed to bring guns to town halls and the like (yes i know they're disbarred from entry but regardless, it just seems to stupid to us outsiders).
Further to that, i can't understand how people who have no logically based positions can have and yield some much power in your country. Why does the media give any credibility to these people by even discussing the birther issue. They're morons, and these idiots don't need any attention. Why do the media pay these idiots attention when they have no sound or even half reasonable positions based on any sort of logic?

How can Fox news get away with the lying and manipulation? We as a nation should be deeply sorry we exported murdoch to you guys. I'm truly sorry.

[Deja Q]

1. Well, some people said Bush was guided by moral insight too.

:shrug:

Real morals are in action, not words.

[provis99]

2. he got one point wrong.

People are not barred from carrying guns into townhall meetings. After all, according to the gun nuts on DU, you never know when 20 gangbangers will bust into the community center, and you'll need a Glock to protect yourself.